A speeding motorcyclist was killed in a collision on Sunday night, which closed all southbound lanes of Interstate 5 for several hours.
At about 6:55 p.m. March 6, a motorcyclist was traveling southbound on I-5 near South 272nd Street in Federal Way. The motorcyclist was driving at a high rate of speed on the right shoulder when he struck a disabled vehicle parked on the shoulder, according to the Washington State Patrol (WSP).
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the motorcyclist as 34-year-old Joel Raynor of Silverdale.
The motorcyclist was ejected off the motorcycle. He was then struck by two additional vehicles on the freeway and died at the scene, according to WSP.
State patrol troopers attempted to stop a motorcyclist who was “riding recklessly,” said Trooper Rick Johnson in a tweet. The trooper deactivated, but the motorcyclist continued to drive recklessly, he said.
According to the Washington State Patrol, speed and driving on the shoulder were causes of the collision. It is unknown if drugs or alcohol were involved.
The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet. There were no other injuries as a result of the collision.
Southbound I-5 was blocked for five and a half hours, according to WSP.